A leadership transition may be underway at the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as the agency faces scrutiny of its technology modernization efforts.
An industry source has shared with Industry Insider — Texas that Chief Information Officer Heather Hall has stepped down and Deputy CIO Jeffery Peden has stepped into the role on an interim basis. The reported changes have not been publicly confirmed by the agency, and the agency did not response to a request for comment by publication time.
The timing would place Peden at the head of the IT organization as TWC considers recommendations from a Sunset Advisory Commission staff report that called for stronger technology planning, procurement practices, data governance and system launch controls.
Sunset staff found that some recent modernization projects were delayed, reduced in scope or deployed before they were fully functional. The report said those systems have required continuing fixes, produced unreliable data and increased administrative burdens for the agency and its stakeholders.
Hall has led the commission’s IT organization since March 2019 after previously serving as deputy CIO for planning and development, among other roles. Her responsibilities have included oversight of the division’s budget, technology projects, information security program, accessibility compliance and relationships with outside service providers.
Before joining the commission, Hall held technology and management positions at several Texas agencies, including CIO at the former Department of Aging and Disability Services. Her public-sector career has also included roles at the Health and Human Services Commission, Comptroller of Public Accounts and Office of the Attorney General.
She was named Texas CIO of the Year in 2024 at the Texas IT Leadership Forum.
Peden has served as the commission’s deputy CIO since January 2016. In that position, he has provided direction for strategic operations and planning, overseen day-to-day IT service delivery and managed functions including budgeting, procurement and business process improvement.
Before joining TWC, Peden spent 12 years as CIO at the former Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. He also served in the U.S. Air Force and is a graduate of the Air Force Academy.
TWC CIO Heather Hall Retires, Jeff Peden Named Interim
What to Know:
- Hall had led the agency’s IT organization since 2019.
- Peden has served as deputy CIO since 2016 and previously led IT at another Texas agency.
- The transition comes as TWC weighs Sunset recommendations on modernization planning, procurement and data governance.
